Growth in state prison and
parole population

From
1990 to 2002, the state parole population grew at a slower rate than the
state prison population

Since 1990, the state
prison population nearly doubled, increasing from 708,393 in 1990 to 1,277,127
at yearend 2002. The rate of growth in the prison population slowed between
1999 and 2001, due in part to a rise in the number of releases from prison
(592,000 in 2001). Relative to the prison population, the growth in the
state parole population was much more modest, increasing from 502,134
in 1990 to 670,169 by 2002. However, the state parole and prison populations
each grew 2.4% during 2002, the largest annual growth rate for each group
since 1992 and 1999 respectively.

At least 95%
of all state prisoners will be released from prison at some point; nearly
80% will be released to parole supervision.

On average, from
1990 to 2001 the prison population increased 5.3% per year, while the
state parole population rose 2.4% per year. However, since 1999 the
rate of growth in state prisons has nearly stabilized.

The low rate of
growth in parole supervision relative to the growth in the prison population
reflects changes in sentencing and parole release policies that have
resulted in increasing lengths of stay in prison and declining prison
release rates.

1,277,127 adults
were under the jurisdiction of state correctional authorities at yearend
2002, up from 708,393 at yearend 1990.

670,169 adults
were under state parole supervision at yearend 2002, up from 502,134
in 1990.